Wynn coming on real strong

Josh Kendall

11/02/2007

ATHENS – Major college football took some getting used to for Jarius Wynn. Defensive ends coach Jon Fabris took some getting used to, too.

Now, heading into the ninth game of the season, Wynn, a junior transfer from Georgia Military College, finally is getting the hang of both. He registered his first sack of the season last week against Florida and seems finally to be a factor in the defense end rotation as Georgia gets ready to face Troy at 1 p.m. Saturday.

That's what the No. 10 Bulldogs expected of Wynn when he signed, but he was moved to defensive tackle two weeks before the season began. He registered six tackles in the first eight games at that position before being moved back to defensive end before last week's game.

"Jarius fits (defensive end) better," head coach Mark Richt said. "We probably should have left him there all along. He played well, and I think he's going to play even better. I think he can be outstanding. I don't think we'll be moving him back."

Wynn, who has nine tackles and seven quarterback hurries this season, feels more comfortable at defensive end, he said.

"There is a lot of stuff you have to know at defensive tackle, make the right moves, put your hands in the right place," he said. "The reason I moved to tackle is because I wasn't getting a lot of production on the defensive end, but now I am. I'm back at home."

Having Wynn at defensive end makes the entire line better, defensive line coach Rodney Garner said, but his time at defensive tackle was not in vain. Wynn learned the value of pad level while playing defensive tackle, something he was having trouble mastering at defensive end.

Wynn acknowledged it took him longer than he expected to pick up Georgia's system, and Garner at one point called his former coaches at Lincoln County High School to enlist their help in encouraging Wynn to study his playbook more. The combination of more studying and more experience is paying off now.

"Everybody doesn't jump into college football and just blow up (immediately)," said defensive tackle Corvey Irvin, who came from GMC with Wynn. "Coming from junior college into the SEC, it's a little faster. It might take time to adjust to the speed and get going."

Wynn still isn't perfect.

"It's kind of a crash course," Fabris said. "When he makes a mistake now, it's not, ‘Run that play again.' It counts. It's not spring practice."

Playing for Fabris is tougher than playing for Garner, Wynn said, but he added he appreciates Fabris' intense style.

"He's a good kid," Fabris said. "He works hard, and I think if he keeps the right attitude, he can continue to get better."